Placochela nigripes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae
Subfamily: Cecidomyiinae
Genus: Placochela
Species:
P. nigripes
Binomial name
Placochela nigripes
(F. Löw, 1877)[1]
Synonyms

Epidosis nigripes F. Löw, 1877

Placochela nigripes is a gall midge which forms galls on the flower buds of elder, honeysuckle and privet. It was described by F Löw in 1877.

Appearance of the gall

Eggs are laid in the spring on the flower buds of wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare), fly honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum), danewort (Sambucus ebulus) and elder (Sambucus nigra). The orange larvae prevent the buds from opening and the swollen petals form a cap, which hides the larva. In elder the buds may stay green, or can turn pink or purple. The galls mature in the late summer and the larvae leave and spend the winter in the soil, pupating. Several buds can be occupied in an inflorescence. According to British Plant Galls, P. nigripes alternates between elder and wild privet.[2][3]

There may be other causes of closed flowers, and larvae need to be examined to confirm they are this species. Trotteria ligrustri is an inquiline; the larvae are dirty yellow and when mature have a pink fat body. Another inquiline is Arnoldiola sambuci, which has white larvae and may also be found in the flowers of elder. Contarinia sambuci also gall the flowers of elder; the jumping larvae are yellow and are found in mainland Europe. In Britain the host of C sambuci is usually the flowers of Viburnum.[3][4][5]

Distribution

The insect is found in Europe.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Placochela nigripes (F. Low, 1877)". Fauna Europaea. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Michael Chinery (2011). Britain's Plant Galls. A photographic guide. Old Basing, Hampshire: WildGuides. pp. 155 & 300. ISBN 978-190365743-0.
  3. 1 2 Redfern, Margaret; Shirley, Peter; Bloxham, Michael (2011). British Plant Galls (Second ed.). Shrewsbury: FSC Publications. pp. 154 & 300. ISBN 978-1-85153-284-1.
  4. ↑ Ellis, W N. "Arnoldiola sambuci (Kieffer, 1901)". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Ellis, W N. "Trotteria ligustri Barnes, 1954". Plant Parasites of Europe. Retrieved 1 January 2023.


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